updated 12:39 pm EDT, Fri September 20, 2013

iPhone 5c still readily available

Apple is seeing "incredible" demand for its new iPhones, according to an official statement. "Demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and we are currently sold out or have limited supply of certain iPhone 5s models in some stores," a PR representative says. The company has declined to go into any more detail, but typically reserves specific numbers until completed launch weekends, quarterly results calls, and major press events.

The PR statement backs up anecdotes of sellouts at retail stores and online. One of the primary problems at the moment isn't so much the availability of the 5s as it is alternate colors; while space gray units may be in reasonable supply, stocks of silver and gray phones are either low or out completely. Apple's own US online store is listing an "October" window for gold models, and 7-10-day delays for gray and silver.

The iPhone 5c is reportedly in good supply, shipping in 1 to 3 days in the US. It's essentially a plastic-backed iPhone 5 however, and not what most of today's shoppers are after.